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Canada is suffering from a “justice deficit” – a large and growing gap between the aspirations of the justice system and its actual performance. With few exceptions, our justice system is slow, inefficient, and costly. The Supreme Court sent this message loudly and clearly in its July 8, 2016 decision when it threw out drug trafficking charges from British Columbia; more than four years had elapsed from when the accused was charged to the conclusion of the trial. But until now, the extent of inefficiency and underperformance in the Canadian criminal justice system has never been fully assessed. The Macdonald-Laurier Institute Report Card on the Criminal Justice System aims to enhance accountability and transparency with a view towards its reform and ongoing improvement for the benefit of all Canadians.